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Jay Leno looks frail and exhausted as he takes vintage 1910 steam car out eight months after serious injury

BBG News

On Monday, Jay Leno appeared noticeably thin as he enjoyed a drive in his antique 1910 Model O-O White Steam Car.

In more recent times, the ex-host of The Tonight Show, who’s 75, seemed noticeably slimmer compared to his current appearance, and he appeared unusually weary when driving around in Burbank, California – a city where his vintage car collection is housed in a garage.

Approximately eight months ago, he was seen with a severely bruised and damaged face, following an incident where he allegedly fell down a steep slope near the hotel where he was residing prior to a stand-up performance in November of the previous year.

Jay sported a rough-and-tumble look in a blue western shirt adorned with snap buttons, while his head boasted an impressive volume of thick, white hair.

Part of his visibly apparent strain may have been due to the steam car failing to run as desired.

As an overly enthusiastic admirer, I hopped behind the wheel of that magnificent 115-year-old automobile, ready to embark on a thrilling journey. However, it wasn’t too far into my drive before I found myself pulled over by the roadside, as the observant spectators had already noticed our brief encounter with mechanical failure.

Jay found himself in the midst of a few of his team members, who were intensely discussing the issue at hand and attempting to restore functionality to the vehicle.

But due to needing a more complex repair than what was available on the spot, he ultimately had to phone a tow truck to transport the vintage car back to his garage instead.

It seems that Leno has made a full recovery from his recent injury, which occurred following a 60-foot fall close to the Hampton Inn in Greenhouse, Pennsylvania.

As a devoted follower, I found myself making my way to a local eatery before an upcoming performance this very night. In the spirit of saving time, I opted for a shortcut.

He said that since he didn’t have a car, the only way to reach the restaurant was by walking approximately one and a half miles around it.

As a keen enthusiast, I observed, “The slope appears manageable, roughly around 60-70 feet in height. Allow me to give it a try and descend this hill.

However, due to the steep incline and rough ground, Leno slipped and tumbled all the way to the base of the hill.

In a jiffy, I found myself tumbling down a slope, colliding with a stone, and receiving an unexpected blow to my eye, as I humorously recounted that experience.

Or, more casually:

In a flash, I went rolling down the hill, whacked my head on a rock, and got a surprise in the eye – all part of the amusing story I shared about it!

Some fans didn’t buy the explanation and took to social media to theorize about his injuries.

Some posters joked that he was in debt to mobsters who had roughed him up over gambling losses.

Fueling the conspiracy theories and jokes was a previous injury Leno sustained in 2023. 

That summer he broke both of his kneecaps in what he later said was a motorcycle crash. 

The accident-prone comedian sustained injuries after a 2022 incident where he received severe facial burns.

It seems he had been fiddling with an antique steam-driven vehicle which burned gasoline to heat water and produce steam for piston movement. However, the car he drove on Monday appeared to be a newer model of steam car compared to the 1907 White Model G that he was previously said to be working on.

It seems that car mysteriously caught fire as he was tinkering with it, and gasoline sprayed onto Leno’s face due to the blaze.

Quickly, firefighters were dispatched to the garage to extinguish the flames, while Jay Leno was transported to a medical facility. However, it was reported that his injuries were not considered critical.

Previously this year, Leno shared a heartfelt message regarding a challenging domestic issue when he took on the role of caregiver for his wife Mavis following her diagnosis with advanced dementia.

Jay got candid about the topic during an interview on In Depth With Graham Bensinger in April.

About a year ago, a court bestowed guardianship upon the star due to a legal document disclosure, indicating that his 78-year-old relative occasionally fails to recognize him and has forgotten her own birthday.

In the course of her heartrending health struggle, Leno was once questioned about the most significant self-discovery he made while standing by her side.

He confessed that his life has not required much difficulty or danger. Specifically, he wasn’t a soldier, so he never had to fire at anyone. Additionally, he never found himself in a position where he needed to put his life on the line.

When I got married, it’s as if you make a promise – “Will I keep this up or might I behave unfaithfully, say, flirting with the cashier at the convenience store if something were to happen to my wife? No, that’s not who I am.” This is what Leno expressed.

The TV host mentioned, “I appreciate spending time with my spouse. When I get home, I usually prepare dinner for her, we watch TV together, and it’s all good. It’s just fine.

‘It’s basically what we did before, except now I have to feed her and do all those things.’ 

Jay conveyed to the host, “I enjoy her company. Caring for her feels important to me because she is quite self-reliant. It’s fulfilling knowing I’m needed and that I should be by her side.

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2025-07-16 00:19

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